u·nit (yo?o?n?t)n.1. An individual, group, structure, or other entity regarded as an elementary structural or functional constituent of a whole.2. A group regarded as a distinct entity within a larger group.3. a. A mechanical part or module.b. An entire apparatus or the equipment that performs a specific function.4. A precisely specified quantity in terms of which the magnitudes of other quantities of the same kind can be stated.5. Medicine The quantity of a vaccine, serum, drug, or other agent necessary to produce a specific effect.6. a. A fixed amount of scholastic study used as a basis for calculating academic credits, usually measured in hours of classroom instruction or laboratory work.b. A section of an academic course focusing on a selected theme: a unit on Native Americans.7. The number immediately to the left of the decimal point in the Arabic numeral system.8. Mathematics a. The lowest positive whole number; one.b. An element of a ring with a multiplicative inverse.[Back-formation from unity.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.unit (?ju?n?t) n1. a single undivided entity or whole2. any group or individual, esp when regarded as a basic element of a larger whole3. (Mechanical Engineering) a mechanical part or integrated assembly of parts that performs a subsidiary function: a filter unit. 4. (Mechanical Engineering) a complete system, apparatus, or establishment that performs a specific function: a production unit. 5. (Military) a subdivision of a larger military formation6. Also called: unit of measurement a standard amount of a physical quantity, such as length, mass, energy, etc, specified multiples of which are used to express magnitudes of that physical quantity: the second is a unit of time. 7. (Pharmacology) the amount of a drug, vaccine, etc, needed to produce a particular effect8. (Brewing) a standard measure used in calculating alcohol intake and its effect9. (Mathematics) maths a. (usually plural) the first position in a place-value counting system, representing a single-digit number: in the decimal system the number 27 has 7 units and 2 tens. b. (modifier) having a value defined as one for the system: unit vector. 10. (Mathematics) maths logic Also called: unit set a set having a single member11. (Logic) maths logic Also called: unit set a set having a single member12. short for home unit13. (Agriculture) short for stock unit14. (Railways) NZ a self-propelled railcar[C16: back formation from unity, perhaps on the model of digit]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014u?nit (?yu n?t) n. 1. a single entity; one person or thing. 2. any group of things or persons regarded as an entity: They formed a cohesive unit. 3. one of the individuals, parts, or elements into which a whole may be divided or analyzed. 4. one of a number of things, organizations, etc., identical or equivalent in function or form: a rental unit. 5. any specified amount of a quantity, as of length, volume, or time, by comparison with which any other quantity of the same kind is measured. 6. the least positive integer; one. 7. Also called unit’s place. (in a mixed or whole number) the position of the first digit to the left of the decimal point. 8. a machine, part, or system of machines having a specified purpose; apparatus: a heating unit. 9. a quantity of educational instruction, usu. determined by the number of hours of classroom or laboratory work. 10. Mil. a subdivision of an organized body of soldiers. [1570; coined by John Dee as a translation of Greek mónas] Unit. Unitarian. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.unit1. Any military element whose structure is prescribed by competent authority, such as a table of organization and equipment; specifically, part of an organization.2. An organization title of a subdivision of a group in a task force.3. A standard or basic quantity into which an item of supply is divided, issued, or used. In this meaning, also called unit of issue.4. With regard to Reserve Components of the Armed Forces, denotes a Selected Reserve unit organized, equipped, and trained for mobilization to serve on active duty as a unit or to augment or be augmented by another unit. Headquarters and support functions without wartime missions are not considered units.Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.Unit a group of troops; a special department; a part of a collective whole?Wilkes.Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.